Agriculture Victoria seasonal risk agronomist Dale Boyd said an early estimation of grain yield was an important agronomy tool to use right now.
Mr Boyd said there were many methods available for farmers to estimate yield of various crops, from quick and relatively straightforward to more detailed and complicated methods.
In his Guide to estimating crop yields Mr Boyd shares his simple rule-of-thumb method.
“This can be done relatively quickly with the use of a ruler and a smart device, eliminating the use of paper and pen that can get wet while in the crop,” he said.
Mr Boyd said the type of yield estimate he outlined was one of the easiest and quickest to complete and could be used in a number of situations in cereal paddocks.
“Farmers require accurate yield estimates for a number of reasons but after observing the crop grow over winter, now is the best time to analyse paddock performance,” he said.
“Immediate feedback on crop yield is produced, and by assessing a number of paddocks it will become evident as to what factors are impacting the season and the crop.
“Critical analysis during grain-fill will identify if projected yield estimates could be achieved or other agronomy issues are affecting the crop.
“Understanding moisture levels with the use of soil moisture probes at grain fill can assist in forecasting grain quality prospects and planning harvest logistics and storage requirements.”
Step-by-step instructions for using the crop yield calculator can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website by clicking on the “View soil moisture data on extensionAUS” button.
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